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South Norfolk MP warns against 'carpeting' area with solar farms

BBC · last updated

MP warns against ‘carpeting’ area with solar farms

Paul Moseley

BBC political reporter, Norfolk

Paul Moseley/BBC Ben Goldsborough is looking at the camera. He's wearing a grey suit jacket over a dark shirt, and is standing in the Forum in Norwich.Paul Moseley/BBC

Ben Goldsborough said too many major energy projects were being planned for south Norfolk

An MP who said Norfolk could be “the Texas of green energy” said he was “shocked” at proposals for another large solar farm in his constituency.

Energy firm Aukera has revealed plans for the Tasway Energy Park, near Long Stratton, which it said could provide power for up to 200,000 homes.

“If you carpet the entire southern half of south Norfolk, that’s unfair on residents,” argued Labour’s Ben Goldsborough.

On a website detailing its proposals, Aukera said it “wishes to engage with the community and residents early to begin to enhance opportunities the project could bring”.

Aukera We can see map of part of south Norfolk, including Talconeston and Long Stratton. Some parts are highlighted yellow, to show where intended developments would beAukera

Early plans for the Tasway development show it being spread across several sites in south Norfolk

Goldsborough, who has backed the East Pye development, said news of the 700 MW Tasway project was “shocking”.

He has previously compared the potential benefits of green energy in south Norfolk to the boom Texas underwent after oil was discovered there, but warned too many projects were now being proposed for his constituency:

“I want to see Norfolk being at the forefront of offshore wind, onshore wind in some areas, and solar… but that needs to be spread out across the whole county, and that, as it stands, isn’t happening.”

The MP said he only found out about Tasway when a resident contacted him, but he would be meeting with the company.

NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock A drone picture shows a huge solar farm near the village of Great Wilbraham, near Cambridge, from above. Thousands of panels cover a huge field. The solar farm is surrounded by fields and trees.NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The government has said it wants more solar farms to generate green energy in the UK

On its website Aukera, which has been asked for further comment, said no final design had been confirmed.

But it said its “proposal includes solar panels across parts of the site, with a battery energy storage system to store and release electricity when it’s most needed”.

The government, which wants 95% of energy generated in the UK by 2030 to be “clean”, will have final say on the project.